Jammu, Oct 15 (IANS): Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra is likely to appoint Amrit Malhotra, a senior Congress leader and staunch loyalist of Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Saif-ud-Din Soz, as the acting chairman of the state legislative council Saturday, sources said.

The state government Friday recommended Malhotra for appointment, sources said.

The term of the current Deputy Chairman Arvinder Singh "Micky", considered close to union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, expires Saturday.

Micky's term as member of the legislative council also expires Saturday.

In the current coalition government led by the National Conference (NC), the Congress is entitled to the post of the head of the council while NC is entitled to the post of the speaker of the legislative assembly.

NC leader Mohammad Akbar Lone is the speaker of the assembly.

There was a proposal to make state Medical Education and Technical Education Minister R.S. Chib as the council chairman but he declined as he did not want to give up the ministerial post, sources said.